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Player Watch Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
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3,513
I think you are probably right. Although according to rumours, the "untouchables" must be a small group and exclude virtually anyone who has been a part of the first team for more than a season?

Emerson, Davies, Skipp, Bentancur, Bissouma, Kulusevski and Richarlison are all available or rumoured to be available. Werner is here on a year long loan and there are noises about Romero leaving next summer. Given his age, there will inevitably be questions about Son’s future by next summer too.

Then there are players who we might not consider selling now but who we might be tempted to sell in a year’s time if they have a poor season. Maddison springs to mind. Possibly Porro too.

A lot will depend on how our young players develop. We have many highly rated young players at CM, so if the club think they’re ready, they may decide to cash in on the likes of Bentancur now I guess.
Gotta trust Ange, I guess.

We do need improvements throughout the squad to be consistently top 4 and competing for trophies.

In terms of Bentancur, I really like him as a player but he hasn't been the same since the injury and has only 2 years left on his contract. I personally hope we keep him and he gets back to his best, but I will also trust the club if they decide to move him on.

It is a wait and see, I guess.
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
6,075
15,969
One thing that is annoying is that he has missed two pre-seasons in a row and will be playing catch up again.
 

BorjeSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jun 29, 2007
4,535
31,582
One thing that is annoying is that he has missed two pre-seasons in a row and will be playing catch up again.
Agree that it isn't ideal, but coming back from that injury is almost like a pre-season in itself. Loads of gym work and stress-testing his body to the point where Bentancur was frustrated not to be included earlier.

I know he's had a rough period, on and off the field, but I think he will be more motivated than ever to show his worth next season.
 

stevespurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2005
1,296
2,301
With the type of young players we have ready to go, plus Benta’s poor form from Jan to May, then throwing the toys out of the pram and a bottle at the crowd….Im ok to give him until Jan to see if he can turn things around. But would lose no sleep if he were sold now.
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
4,192
7,950
It's a strange one. Around a year ago, there was a broad consensus here that Bentancur was one of the best central midfielders in the world. And certainly the best midfielder at Tottenham. The club might have insights we don’t, suggesting his injury is so serious that he’s no longer capable of playing at this level. Still, it’s difficult to understand how fans could come to that conclusion so quickly. He only returned from injury around January, I think.
The word you looking for is fickle..... I had to scratch my head at this sudden suggestion of him not being good enough.
 
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Ron Burgundy

SC Supporter
Jun 19, 2008
9,303
29,177
It’s a lack of patience too, and no appreciation for how long it might take for a player to regain form after a serious injury.

We should give him time. As some are saying, he was near enough world class before injury. Arguably our best player. Moreover, it sounds like he was good for Uruguay.

Would be nuts to sell him.
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
8,496
32,046
Feels like he's been written off by some of our fans. I hope he can return to his pre-injury form and really start to impact games, the way that we know he can.

One thing for sure is, he'll have to contend with significantly more competition in the squad this season.

That could turn out to be a great thing for us, as he'll have other players pushing him to improve and perform in each game.
 
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Gilzean at the near post

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
547
1,505
I think when at the top of his game he is World Class. He is bith solid and creative. I think the younger players such as Gray and Bergvall will play better alongside him and I look forward to seeing him in our midfield this season.
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
8,131
15,908
Everyone is back with the club and training at least, fitness levels unknown for most.
 

Detspurs

Member
Aug 29, 2012
13
61
I posted about his injury last year as I have a fair bit of experience with these kind of injuries both personally and through my work. I thought that many Spurs supporters were a bit too optimistic about the impact he would have for us last season and tried to remind them that players with ACL injuries are likely to struggle with returning to their previous level. This summer it appears all the positivity from last autumn is gone and a lot of fans want him gone. I'm a bit surprised at how the wind has changed.

Sure his popularity took a hit with the incidents this summer, but I think we owe him a bit of patience when it comes to his performances. He has been a top player since the day he arrived and was arguably our best player with Kane the season he got injured.

There is a reason why doctors in sports often distinguish between return to play and return to performance. It is hard to say whether he will ever be the important figure he was in our team again, but in my opinion it was always likely that we would have to wait until this season to know if we get our world class player back.
 

neilp

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2007
3,616
16,049
I posted about his injury last year as I have a fair bit of experience with these kind of injuries both personally and through my work. I thought that many Spurs supporters were a bit too optimistic about the impact he would have for us last season and tried to remind them that players with ACL injuries are likely to struggle with returning to their previous level. This summer it appears all the positivity from last autumn is gone and a lot of fans want him gone. I'm a bit surprised at how the wind has changed.

Sure his popularity took a hit with the incidents this summer, but I think we owe him a bit of patience when it comes to his performances. He has been a top player since the day he arrived and was arguably our best player with Kane the season he got injured.

There is a reason why doctors in sports often distinguish between return to play and return to performance. It is hard to say whether he will ever be the important figure he was in our team again, but in my opinion it was always likely that we would have to wait until this season to know if we get our world class player back.
Thanks, that’s a good bit of perspective.
 

Hoddle&Waddle

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2012
8,465
17,963
I remember at the world cup his metrics had him far and away the most dominant midfielder. Maybe someone can post that again.
I think the term 'World Class' is used too frequently.

Personally think Bentencur is too inconsistent (even before injury) to even be considered.
 

cliff jones

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
4,946
9,005
Looked sharp yesterday- gonna be quite a battle for places in the mids but starts for me more often than not if he’s close to his best
 
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